How to graduate from beer pong to beer judge

On any college campus, it’s easy to find students who could describe themselves as “beer enthusiasts.” But if you want to graduate from shot-gunning flavorless brews to discussing the woody aroma of a California lager, you might consider becoming a certified beer judge.

“I love showing people that there are so many different beer styles out there,” says Dennis Mitchell, 30, of Chandler, Ariz. “In college, you tend to focus on certain light beers that are cheap and easy to drink in mass quantities.”

Mitchell is a “Grand Master Beer Judge” — the only master-level judge in his home state of Arizona, and one of less than 100 certified grand masters in the country.

Yes, you read that correctly: you can become a certified connoisseur. You just have to be 21 or older, committed to drinking responsibly and have the desire to learn about more than 100 different styles of beer.

As a beer judge, you could be qualified to serve as arbiter at a whole array of events, from home brewing competitions — where you advise hobby brewers about their techniques — to commercial competitions like the Great American Beer Fest and the California State Fair Commercial Craft Beer Competition.

The Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP), of which Mitchell serves as assistant communications director, is an all-volunteer organization that has certified official beer judges since its founding in 1985. The process consists of an online qualification test and subsequent in-person examination (during which applicants judge six beers). Tests are held periodically in different cities across the country, as well as major cities around the world, including Rio de Janiero, Brazil, and Sydney, Australia.

Studying for a BJCP test means learning the different beer styles, technical aspects of brewing and the vocabulary of the field.

Of course, a large part of studying means sampling as many different beers as possible.

While you might not have time to train as a beer judge, the BJCP’s style guides are a great place to explore the world of brewing. You can learn about what distinguishes different beer styles, and then try them on your own. For each style — from Baltic Porter to Italian Grape Ale — the BJCP provides a list of widely available commercial examples.

In Mitchell’s opinion, there are certain styles that beer newcomers and beer lovers should know about:

Beginner

For people first getting into beer, Wheat Beers are a good place to start (some BJCP examples are Oberon and Widmer Hefeweizen), he says. They might also try American Blonde Ales (such as Kona Big Wave Golden Ale or Summer Love).

Intermediate

Folks looking for more sophisticated brews, says Mitchell, might try more American Ales (which come as Pales, Ambers, and Blondes) or Stouts (Guinness Irish Stout is a popular style).

Sampling different beers a local brewery is great way to explore styles. But, if you’re shopping in a conventional store, there are a variety of mobile apps that use BJCP’s style guides to recommend beers (such BJCP Styles).

While becoming a beer judge is a hobby rather than an occupation, those interested in beer drinking might consider pursuing it as a career. Let’s Grab a Beer, an Anheuser-Busch website, has a short list of jobs. The interesting ones are:

Barley Researcher: “Breed and select barley to make better beer,” the listicle notes.

Brewery Tour Guide: A rise in beer tourism is the chance for a “a great entry-level position (for people who want to) become champions for their brewery’s cause.”

Beer Label Designer: “Artists and graphic designers are being drafted into the beer industry in rising numbers.”

Jack Herrera is a student at Stanford University and a USA TODAY College correspondent.